Long slow looking is its own reward, especially when the subject of your gaze is the work of an amazing artist you’ve never heard of before. Remedios Varo (1908–1963) was a Spanish Surrealist who lived in Spain, then France, then Mexico. Her doting father, a hydraulic engineer, nurtured her artistry and introduced her to mysticism and philosophy. In her 30s she became a follower of the spiritual teacher G. I. Gurdjieff. Varo’s paintings are like no one else’s, and the work recently acquired by the MFA Boston—Tailleur Pour Dames (1957)—should bring a host of new admirers. Floating straight pins. A face made of scissors. Ghosts. A dress that’s a canoe. And so much more. Varo weaves a web (note the floor) that holds all kinds of comment on fashion, women, and the world. —Laura Jacobs